70 hurt in Argentina river fish attack
BUENOS AIRES: An attack by a school of carnivorous fish injured 70 people bathing in an Argentinian river, including seven children who lost parts of their fingers or toes.
Director of lifeguards Federico Cornier said yesterday that thousands of bathers were cooling off from 38ºC temperatures in the Parana River in Rosario on Wednesday when bathers began complaining of bite marks on their hands and feet. He blamed the attack on palometas, “a type of piranha, big, voracious and with sharp teeth that can really bite”.
Paramedic Alberto Manino said some children he treated lost entire digits. He said city beaches were closed, but it was so hot that within 30 minutes, many people went back into the water.
Those injured in the attack by the fish included a girl who lost part of a finger, said Health Under-Secretary Gabriela Quintanilla.
A medical official, Gustavo Centurion, said the attack, which began at mid-morning on Christmas Day, was “very aggressive”.
“There were some people that the fish literally had torn bits of flesh from,” he said.
The region has been hit by a heat wave with temperatures soaring to 38ºC, prompting thousands to seek relief in the waters of the Parana River, which is packed with carnivorous fish.
Officials said the warm weather was apparently responsible for the fish congregating on the river’s surface before the attack. – Sapa-AP-AFP